Gilles petit



(No Model.)

G. PETIT.

WiG, FALSE FRONT, SWITCH &C-

No. 263,665. Patented Aug-.29, 1882.

PL PETERS. Flmo-Lnhn m her, Walhinglon. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GILLES PETIT, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

wle, FALSE FRONT, SWITCIH, aw.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 263,665, dated August29, 1882.

Application filed April 17, 1882. (No m odclJ Patented in France October25, 1881, No. 145,507; in England October 29, 1881, No.

4,747, and in Belgium October 29, 1881,No. 56,091. a

[[0 all :whom it may concern: Be it known that I, GILLES PETIT, ofParis, in the Republic of France, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in the Manufacture of Wigs, False Fronts, Switches, andother like articles, of which the following specification is a fulldescription.

The invention hasfor its object to enable fronts, circles, and perukesof all kinds to be readily and cheaply made; and it consists in anewkind or system of wig or artificial head-dress, in the manufacture ofwhich the methods ordinarily employed are entirely changed.

Heretofore the hairs or matters imitating hair are set or prickedstraight into a suitable support, and then receive the desiredconfigurations in conformity with the prevailing style of dressing thehair. i

In the present invention the natural or artificial hair is interposedbetween two invisible nets of large mesh, made of hair or other suitablematerial, so as.to imitate, in a flat position, the effect of a naturalcoiffure or headdress. It will be seen that by this means the long andcareful work of fixing each hair in a vertical position is avoided, andthat the hairdresser may proceed by groups or masses in exercising histaste to produce effects which imitate nature as closelyas doneheretofore by the prevailing methods.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, a description willnow be given of what is considered the best mode of carrying the sameinto effect.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of thisspecification, Figure 1 is a plan, and Fig. 2 a section, of a wig orartificial head-dress made in accordance with the invention and held ona support.

Upon a block, A, covered with skin to allow of the insertion of pins, isstretched a largemesh invisible net, d, ofhair or other suitablematerial. In making a false frontit is stretched on the forehead of theblock; if a switch or chignon, on the back, and if an entire peruke,over the whole top. Upon the net d so stretched are placed small massesof hair, of different lengths, which have beena-lready prepared tofretain in position the hair betweenthem.

ranged and secured it is covered with one or more pieces of invisiblenetting, c, of hair or other material, and the two pieces 0 d of net arethen sewed or attached together, so as to To do this sewing, preparedhair or imitation hair, such as usedinthe wig, may be used as thethread. The block, with the wig or artificial coiffure thereon envelopedin a cloth, is placed in a stove to give the wig or coiflure the desiredshape; or, what is as well, a hot iron may be passed lightly over it toset the hair in the form given to it and to allow the pins to be takenout and the wig removed from the block without losing its form. Theaction of heat sets the hair andalso the threads of the net, andmaintains them in place in a condition of suppleness and lightness notobtained by the process heretofore in use.

Theadvantages of the improved wigs or artificial head-dress, besidestheir lightness and economical manufacture, consist in the facility offormation on the block, so that they may conform to all the undulationsand inequalities of a cranium in the perfectimitation of nature, so asto deceive even an experienced eye, and in the ability to reproduce inthe most striking manner the greatest variety of coiffures, ancient ormodern;

By this improvement it-is possible to take the hair from the shop of themanufacturer simply crimped or frizzed or otherwise prepared, and in afew minutes make any required it form of wi g or head-dress.

Parts of a head-dress or coiffure of different sizes can be made inaccordance with this invention to be combined with the natural hair,

so as to make a most pleasing and light composition.

It is obvious that modifications may be made on a block, coveringthesaid hair with another layer of netting, connecting the latter with thefirst netting, and heating the whole, so that the wig or other articlemay retain its form when removed from the block, substantially in themanner and by the means described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification beforetwo subscribing witnesses.

=- G. PETIT.

Witnesses EMILE BARRAULT, AUG. VINCK.

